After the announcement from KRAFTON last week, we now know that PUBG: BLINDSPOT is the newest game in the PUBG universe, and it is already available to play in Early Access on Steam. People online were surprised by the announcement, and even moreso that it was available to jump into right away.
With over 1,000 “Mostly Positive” reviews already, players seem to be really connecting with it. “Amazing game. Ignore bad reviews; it’s a skill issue. After playing a few games, you’ll get the hang of it; it’s an arcade Siege from birds-eye view. Super cool concept,” said player Gai G in a Steam review. Others mention some things for developers to consider going forward, like balancing and grenade direction.
We were able to chat with PUBG STUDIOS’ Production Director, Seungmyeong Yang, who told us a little more about the game, gave us some insight into what PUBG: BLINDSPOT is hoping to gain from Early Access, and even how BLINDSPOT fits into the overall PUBG universe.
To start, could you give our readers a little bit about PUBG: BLINDSPOT?
Seungmyeong Yang: PUBG: BLINDSPOT is a spin-off title within the PUBG IP, developed by ARC Team, a small team inside PUBG STUDIOS. PUBG: BLINDSPOT is a 5v5 team-based PvP game that delivers fast-paced, tactical-style action shooting from a top-down perspective with a realistic and strategic feel. Through its cone-shaped field of vision, the game intuitively implements indoor CQB tactics around walls, doors, and cover. In particular, teammates share their vision in real time, allowing players to easily experience high-level, real-time cooperative tactics.
Where does PUBG: BLINDSPOT fit into the PUBG world?
Seungmyeong Yang: PUBG: BLINDSPOT is set slightly in the future compared to the current timeline of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS within the PUBG universe. The story centers around conflicts surrounding the “Crypt,” a technology connected to Blue Chip systems. In this setting, defending Agents use Blue Chips, while attacking Attack Team Agents use Red Chips.
The connection between PUBG: BLINDSPOT’s story and the broader PUBG universe will gradually be revealed over time, and we hope players will look forward to discovering more.
This is a very unique style for PUBG and for this genre in general. Why did the team decide to go this route?
Seungmyeong Yang: Like PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG: BLINDSPOT was developed with the intention of realistically recreating tactics used in real-world battlefields within a game.
We began development with the idea of creating a realistic military shooter from a top-down perspective. We implemented a shooting control system capable of clearly expressing the characteristics of different firearms, along with a visible vision range system and cover elements of varying heights. As these elements came together—along with shared vision between teammates—we became confident that they could form a genuinely fun core action experience.
Through testing various modes and level structures, we discovered that implementing CQB tactics in indoor environments connected by rooms and doors best expressed the strength of our core action. As we explored ways to deliver that experience to players in the most complete and accessible form, the game gradually evolved into its current structure.
In summary, while building a realistic military shooter from a top-down perspective, we discovered a core action experience that we felt truly passionate about. The current form of PUBG: BLINDSPOT is the result of our efforts to deliver that core action to players in the most effective way.
What challenges did your team come across due to the unique camera angle, and what benefits does it have to the game and the player?
Seungmyeong Yang: A top-down perspective allows players to intuitively understand terrain structure and the placement of various gameplay elements. It is a viewpoint that naturally encourages strategic thinking and is often well-suited for strategy-focused genres such as RTS or AOS. With PUBG: BLINDSPOT, we wanted players to focus on the strategic aspects of CQB tactics through this perspective.
As a result, once players become even slightly familiar with the game, we observed that they naturally begin coordinating positioning by checking each other’s vision cones and adjusting accordingly. We also saw more instances of organic team play that would be difficult to achieve in a traditional FPS format. This made PUBG: BLINDSPOT particularly well-suited for delivering the fantasy of coordinated CQB teamwork.
For us, the biggest challenge was helping players understand and adapt to the control system. Unlike FPS games, where the camera and character movement are typically unified, top-down games often separate camera and character control. Because low cover and crouched positions are tactically important, we also needed to design a UX and control system that allows players to fire along intended trajectories within a three-dimensional space. This was unfamiliar to some players.
While we aimed to keep the system as simple as possible, the current version supports both a mode where camera and character controls are separated—more common in top-down games—and a mode where they are combined in a way closer to FPS or TPS controls. Many players tend to prefer the FPS-style option.
Why was the decision made to make another game in the PUBG universe, rather than building on the ones that already exist?
Seungmyeong Yang: From the beginning, our goal was not necessarily to create a game set within the PUBG universe. We started with respect for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and aimed to create a top-down game that carries the spirit of PUBG. However, becoming a spin-off within the PUBG universe required considerable thought and discussion.
The PUBG universe, centred around the Blue Zone and Blue Chip technology, offers a unique setting that inspires a wide range of creative possibilities. It also includes various weapons and strategic combat tools that naturally align with the tactical focus of our game, providing a strong foundation for building PUBG: BLINDSPOT.
We also hope that PUBG: BLINDSPOT can demonstrate that the PUBG universe has room to expand into a wider range of genres and themes.
What about PUBG: BLINDSPOT makes it inherently “PUBG”? Did you take anything from other PUBG titles?
Seungmyeong Yang: PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS captures the feeling of overcoming situations on a battlefield filled with bullets by making effective use of cover and realistic tools. It delivers a strong and authentic sense of realistic combat tactics and the fantasy that comes with it. That is what I consider to be the spirit of PUBG.
With PUBG: BLINDSPOT, although the setting is different—focused on indoor CQB environments—we aimed to preserve that same feeling. We wanted players to experience the tactical satisfaction of using cover and throwables effectively to overcome situations, survive, or secure victory, along with the fantasy of CQB tactics. We hope that this sense of the PUBG spirit is clearly felt by players.
PUBG: BLINDSPOT is heading into Early Access, and it is free-to-play. What was PUBG STUDIOS’ goal with these choices?
Seungmyeong Yang: With PUBG: BLINDSPOT, we are introducing a new gameplay experience within the top-down shooter genre, and we hope to convince many players through that experience. Rather than focusing on immediate revenue, we believe it is more important for as many players as possible to access the game easily and share their feedback on this new style of gameplay. When more players engage with PUBG: BLINDSPOT and provide their perspectives, we believe we can continue refining the game into a more compelling and persuasive experience.
What will the Early Access period entail? Will PUBG STUDIOS be working closely with BLINDSPOT’s community as the game continues to develop?
Seungmyeong Yang: During the Early Access period, we will continue working to deepen the tactical aspects of the game, improve accessibility, and raise overall quality. At the same time, we will also continue designing and developing the game’s long-term progression model. All of this will be carried out in close communication with the community.
Our primary channel for communication is the official Discord, and we will also continue listening carefully to feedback from various community platforms as we develop PUBG: BLINDSPOT.
Do you have any concerns heading into a market that some people may find oversaturated already with the genre? How will PUBG: BLINDSPOT stand out?
Seungmyeong Yang: We feel that competition is intensifying not only within this genre, but across the entire PC gaming market. In times like this, we believe it is important to offer players new gameplay experiences that are not bound by the established conventions of existing genres. We see PUBG: BLINDSPOT as a unique title that can deliver fresh and distinct fun by stepping away from typical genre formulas.
PUBG: BLINDSPOT can be seen as a top-down cooperative strategy game, a tactical shooter, and also a CQB tactical simulator. By combining elements from multiple genres in a way that has not been widely attempted before, we aim to provide an exciting and engaging experience.
This approach was possible because PUBG: BLINDSPOT is not a large-scale project backed by massive capital, but rather a game developed by a small and agile team. We believe that games created through new approaches like this can play a positive role in bringing greater diversity to the market.
And just for fun, what is your favourite thing about PUBG: BLINDSPOT, whether it is a character, mechanic, level, etc?
Seungmyeong Yang: Personally, my favourite element is the concept of real-time shared vision in multiplayer. While shared vision may be common in genres like AOS, in PUBG: BLINDSPOT, it feels very different. The vision cone is blocked and reshaped by walls and cover, creating constantly changing “pie-sliced” sightlines. When that is combined with the core shooting rule—if you can see an angle, you can shoot it—it creates a unique dynamic. A teammate’s movement directly affects what I see on my screen, and even a small turn of their view can make it feel like we are actively cooperating in real time. It’s an experience I haven’t felt in other games.
Because of that, PUBG: BLINDSPOT has become my favourite game as a player as well. I’ll continue working so that more players can experience that same feeling.
PUBG: BLINDSPOT is out now in Early Access on Steam.
